Endocrine System

Adrenal Glands: Introduction and Index

When you think about the adrenal glands, you should think about stress. Stress can take many forms: taking an examination, recovering from a broken bone, running away from an invading army, or maintaining proper levels of energy substrates in the face of even mild starvation. For human males, there is even considerable stress associated with shopping.

The adrenal glands produce three major classes of hormones, each of which aid in dealing with the multitude of small and large stresses faced by animals and people almost daily. There is no doubt that at least two of these groups - glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids - are necessary for life.

Core information on adrenal physiology is presented in the following topics:

Advanced and supplemental information on adrenal physiology:


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